HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
And, yes, I actually do change this every day. Ok, sometimes I miss a day, but I catch up quickly. And this is a day we can't miss, can we?
Edit 1/2/25
I have found a little more info on this calendar (although not much). It seems that it's pretty rare, was probably not sold in the parks but was an employee gift, and the only sales record anyone can find was for 280.00. Now I feel kinda dumb for having it in my office at school for years and letting kids play with it...
And now back to our regularly scheduled blog...
Ok, now that we have that out of the way, let's continue on our journey through the Clue universe! Clueniverse? Anyway, hang on tight, here we go!
As I said in earlier posts (that I'm too lazy to go back and check), I have a LOT of Clue games. So, I said to myself, I should share thrm ALL because that would be kind of interesting, and pretty easy to do. So here ya go...
This first one is from 1956. Not much is changed from the last one, except for the updated graphics on the box. I remember finding this particular copy at a now defuct thrift store. It was open on the floor, with its contents spread all over! It took a few minutes to collect everything up, but it was worth it. I like to think that I saved it from being tossed out!
Here we have the same gameboard with the new box art sticker on it. I still think this was a cool "extra" that they threw in...
Inside the box, we have the regular cards, weapons, and wooden pawns.
Another view of the stuff...
And now we'll move up a few years to the version that I remember playing at my cousins' house so many years ago. This is the 1963 issue! The graphic are now hip, mid-century sketches, that I think are quite a bit of fun! Actually, of all the box graphics, I think this one is the best. It combines the game elements with a magnifying glass and a key motif. Really cleaver!
Wait! The back of this game board looks...different...
And sure enough, we get updated board graphics too! Plus those wonderful mid-century characters on the box insert!
The cards are the same, but there's a big difference with the weapons. Or one of them, anyway...
The trusty .45 pistol has been replaced by a pepperbox! I'm not sure why they made this change, but it would prove to be a lasting one.
The graphics are on the instructions as well! I think it's interesting that they didn't issue newly designed cards for this set, but they didn't (I double checked to make sure my copy didn't have the wrong cards.). Board game economics are mysterious things...
And now we move to 1979! We now have a completely redesigned game that, alas, seems pretty devoid of charm to me. Our charming cartoon characters are now photos that are featured on the box.
And no box sticker on the board. No loss, I guess, since the box is boring anyway.
They tried to get artistic with the board, I guess, by using designs and textures that fit each room, but I think it's a "miss" in my book. Yawn.
And here we have photos for cards and plastic pawns. The pepperbox pistol is still with us, however...
The instructions are now printed on the insert. Probably this was cheaper.
As you can tell, I'm not thrilled about this version. And it's on this low point that we drop the curtain on this week's entry. But fear not! Parker Brothers redeems itself with next week's entry!
Until next time, keep searching for treasure!
